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Maidstone United manager Harry Wheeler says their gameplan at Barnet was perfect

Maidstone players followed the gameplan to the letter in their win at Barnet.

United moved up to 18th place in the National League after goals from Blair Turgott and Gold Omotayo in a 2-0 victory.

A perfect display of counter-attacking football did the trick and saw frustrated Bees fans turn on their players and manager John Still.

Maidstone United boss Harry Wheeler Picture: Sean Aidan
Maidstone United boss Harry Wheeler Picture: Sean Aidan

Stones boss Harry Wheeler said: “I’m really pleased. Credit to the players for the gameplan. We deliver it and the players execute it and they were brilliant today.

“We felt we could hurt them out wide and we looked to just counter.

“We worked on it all week and it worked.

“We can give them all the ideas but they’ve got to execute them and they executed them perfectly.

“We frustrated them, we frustrated the team and the fans but they’re a good club, they’re a very good team and we just had to be on it for the whole game. Concentration was the biggest thing.

“It was similar to Aldershot, with more quality, and it’s a pleasing one for us. The gameplan was perfect.”

Preparations were hit when left-back Jack Doyle suffered an ankle injury at the end of Friday’s training session.

It meant a first league start for George McLennan under Wheeler and the former Cheltenham man delivered.

Wheeler said: “George McLennan is a great example of a professional.

George McLennan did well on his first start under Harry Wheeler Picture: Andy Jones
George McLennan did well on his first start under Harry Wheeler Picture: Andy Jones

“He’s not had his chance in the team but he’s stayed fit the whole time and that’s why he took his chance today.

“I thought he was excellent for a lad that’s hardly played at all, you’re probably talking about 10 minutes since August.

“He was brilliant today and he’s earned the right to keep his place.

“He’s proven at this level, he’s done very well at this level and he looks like he’s getting back to his best, he just hasn’t had an opportunity.

“But I gave an example in there, he’s the one that’s stayed professional throughout this, he’s been resolute and fair play to him.”

There was also a change at right-back where Michael Phillips, a midfielder by trade, impressed in a different role.

Wheeler said: “It was somewhere I’ve always thought he might be able to do a job.

“I’ve tested two in the last four days and they’ve both done well. He did a good job.

Read the match report from Maidstone's win at Barnet

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